Trotters brave foul conditions at Exmouth

Fulfords Great West 5 3/2/08
Blackmore Vale Half-Marathon 3/2/08

Twenty-three Teignbridge Trotters took part in the Fulfords Great West 5 in Exmouth on Sunday (February 3), braving unpleasant conditions to keep the royal blue standard flying high.

Those conditions were nasty indeed: high winds were blowing sand off the beach and into the faces of competitors as they struggled along the seafront sections of this normally fast and furious event.

First Trotter home was Dave Tomlin, who came 3rd overall with a time of 29.12. John Crocker was next, in 32.57. Gary Watson posted 35.26 and the club's first lady was Eyvoll Aston, who crossed the line in 35.52. Tracy Elphick (35.55) was close behind.

Also running were: Mark Hamling (36.13), John Skinner (36.32), Mark Wotton (37.04), Keith George (37.36), Bryan Hayes (37.38), Becky George (37.42), Andrew Ludlam (38.35), Dave Dunn (38.43), Tina Caunter (41.00), Graeme Baker (41.44), Nikki Kennard (41.50), Eleanor Taylor (42.34), Richard Keatley (43.30), Julie Crocker (45.31), Susie Ashleigh-Thomas (46.12), Cindy Brookes (47.19), Debbie Saunders (47.52) and Vicky Hales (50.27).

Meanwhile, John Johnson and Graham Penn continued their quest for races outside the county on Sunday by travelling to the Dorset village of Bishops Caundle to compete in the Blackmore Vale Half Marathon. Blue sky and a pleasantly cool temperature greeted the intrepid pair as they set off. It was windy, too, but this didn't seem to bother John, who crossed the line in 1.39.25. Graham, meanwhile, clocked a battling 1.51.47.